New York @ Dallas preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 30, 2019 ) Dallas 114, New York 90

Dallas star guard Luka Doncic is on an early season roll and he looks for another solid outing when the Mavericks host the lowly New York Knicks on Friday. Doncic has three triple-doubles and six 20-point outings while leading Dallas to a strong 5-2 start.

Doncic recorded 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as the Mavericks edged the visiting Orlando Magic 108-107 on Wednesday. "Nothing he does surprises me," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle told reporters. "But he's more into winning than stats, is my feeling about it. He always has been. He has a body of work that proves that if you look back five or six years. That's the important thing." The Knicks own the league's worst record at 1-7 and they suffered their fourth straight setback on Wednesday, when they were routed 122-102 by the host Detroit Pistons. "We have a really high-character group," New York coach David Fizdale told reporters. "It's just a matter of time before they figure each other out and come together."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE KNICKS (1-7): Fizdale has won just 20 percent of his game as New York's coach (18-72) and the fans jeered him and serenaded him with "Fire Fizdale" chants at the team's most recent home game. "I don't think about that," Fizdale told reporters. "I was more concerned about our performance from my seat. I can't be caught up with how everybody else was feeling." Rookie guard RJ Barrett has been a bright spot with a 17.9 average and he has scored 15 or more points in seven of the team's eight games after a 15-point effort in the loss to Detroit.

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (5-2): While Doncic was again thriving in the win over Orlando, running mate Kristaps Porzingis struggled and matched his season low of 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting. Porzingis is averaging just 13.5 points over the last four contests after averaging 26.3 over the first three outings. Reserve guard Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 13 against the Magic and reached double digits in five consecutive games while going 10-of-21 from 3-point range over the past four contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Knicks won their past two visits to Dallas after losing 17 of the previous 20.

2. Mavericks reserve G J.J. Barea scored 11 points in 16 minutes in his season debut.

3. New York C Mitchell Robinson (concussion) departed Wednesday's contest and figures to sit out at least one game.

PREDICTION: Mavericks 119, Knicks 94